Which 80s wargames and adventure games do you still play?

[payn]

Just picked up the latest box set and looks to be exactly what I was playing in the early 90s! Any changes I missed?

One of the things BT did right was compartmentalize the advanced game rules by later years in the game setting. So, succession wars and clan invasion (which is what I play 80% of the time) is still the same. Dark Age and Ilclan the modern eras adds a lot of technology but the base is all original.

The biggest thing you may have missed is “Alpha Strike” which is a modern miniatures take on BT. It simplifies the game greatly but allows for much quicker games regardless of the size of your forces. Not my bag but it’s a popular alternative today giving folks more ways to play.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

I've played a few games of the old Avalon Hill Dune. Probably try to get another going sometime soon, but adulting makes scheduling difficult.

Ones I would play if I could are World in Flames (WW2) and Empires in Arms (Napoleonic.) But ideally they require 5-7 players and lots of spare time.

 

[The Soloist]

Nope! Guess it just wasn't ever on my family's radar when I was growing up. We played things like Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Stratego, Uno, Battleship, Parcheesi, Clue, Life, card games, etc. Stuff like that.

I played the same games in the 70s.

The games we are talking about were not mass market, they were niche and usually found only at the local hobby shop, where they sold historical pewter miniatures for wargames, speciality trains, model cars and RC planes. TSR's D&D was the Trojan Horse that opened the doors for other non-historical indie companies to sell their games there.

 

[trappedslider]

I've played a few games of the old Avalon Hill Dune. Probably try to get another going sometime soon, but adulting makes scheduling difficult.

Ones I would play if I could are World in Flames (WW2) and Empires in Arms (Napoleonic.) But ideally they require 5-7 players and lots of spare time.

and table space

 

[dbm]

I still play Car Wars, but now with the 6e set. I still own Titan, and would play it again, but haven’t in a long time.

 

[The Soloist]

and table space

I was invited one afternoon to participate in such a game. The map was on a pingpong table in the basement. Hundreds of stacks of counters facing each other. We were six and played for four hours micro-managing every inch. I did not go back. Too slow for my hyperactive mind. I preferred Advanced Squad Leader.

 

[The Soloist]

I still play Car Wars, but now with the 6e set. I still own Titan, and would play it again, but haven’t in a long time.

6e is great to get people in the game quickly. We played it a few times with new players in their 30s. Great fun. I finished second.

Almost bought Titan back in the day but wasn't sure if anyone would want to play it. I bought an AD&D book instead. How is it?

 

[dbm]

Titan is amazing and pretty unique. You move around a strategic board, recruiting forces, and when army stacks meet you break out small boards with tactical maps on them to fight. I have never come across another game which encompasses the strategic and tactical in this way.

The downsides are play time, plus player elimination. You could end up being eliminated an hour into a five hour game if you are unlucky… That’s the biggest inhibitor to play on a practical level. I have never tried playing at 2, which would of course eliminate this problem.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

The only 1980s boardgame or wargame I've played in the last few years was HeroQuest. It honestly didn't feel great to me despite minor updates (it was the recent re-release). Still it was more fun than Descent or Frosthaven (a very, very low bar for me lol).

As others have said - would play is much larger - Star Fleet Battles, BattleTech, Adeptus Titanicus, etc.

 

[The Soloist]

Titan is amazing and pretty unique. You move around a strategic board, recruiting forces, and when army stacks meet you break out small boards with tactical maps on them to fight. I have never come across another game which encompasses the strategic and tactical in this way.

The downsides are play time, plus player elimination. You could end up being eliminated an hour into a five hour game if you are unlucky… That’s the biggest inhibitor to play on a practical level. I have never tried playing at 2, which would of course eliminate this problem.

Sounds cool. Time and elimination are the thing.

As for side battles, Space Empires 4X by GMT does that. You build forces, move, explore and when you enter an hex with an opposing force, you play out the battle outside the main board.